Top 10 photos of the week: 2014-06-19, Le Mans edition by James Holland

Photos by James Holland

Welcome to this week's top 10 photos chosen by our own photo editors, and featuring the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did selecting those photos. And remember that you can write your own comments when you click on those photos and bring up the photo viewer page.

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10. Le Mans week kicks off with scrutineering in the center of town and it's just one big photo opportunity. Everyone is thrilled be back at Le Mans, the fans are close to the drivers and everyone's spirits are high and hopeful. This photo marks the beginning of Le Mans week for the Porsche squad, who would go on to have a decent return to la Sarthe.

7. We promise the ferris wheel doesn't spin this fast. But after one too many Kronenbourgs it certainly seems that way as a fan at 3a.m.!

Ferris wheel at the Ford chicane

Photo by: James Holland

6. Night at Le Mans is a unique experience. Ask the drivers and they will tell you it's like a whole other race, within the race. And as the sun comes up, it's misleading because you feel like the worst is over, but there are still 10 hours to go!

5. We've seen about all there is to be seen at Le Mans photo-wise, but this is a new twist. James himself had to tell us where this was taken (driver's right exiting the quick kink before the left hand Indianapolis). The last time we saw an image from this angle was 1999. It's changed just a little since then...It's not a usual place to go, but the photographer made it work. Nice job.

4. And while we're on the subject of different, this finish shot is something that isn't seen often either. Due to editorial reasons, most photographers are either on pitlane side for the finish or if they are on driver's left, they are further down to get a head-on shot of the cars crossing the line. This view from the rear actually puts a lot more context into the image and I like that these are some of the lower-finishing entries, not the leaders. The name of the game at Le Mans is finishing.

Checkered flag

Photo by: James Holland

3. We have several images of this French fan getting autographs from drivers during the Friday parade in downtown Le Mans, and this is our favorite. This is part of the magic of Le Mans. Drivers and fans together having fun.

Pole winner Kazuki Nakajima signing a fan

Photo by: James Holland

2. The winning Audi on the run up from Mulsanne corner through the woods. This is one of the few remaining places on the circuit that still looks completely unchanged since 1950. Hearing the roar of the engines all the way from Tertre Rouge at the start of a session and waiting 90 seconds for the first cars to finally fly past you at this very spot is incredible.